by Aaron Rene Carvajal | Sep 2, 2015 | Freedom, Sustainability, The Future
Many folks ask if our self sustainable dome project is to prepare for coming doom and gloom. There is a growing fear of what many call a societal breakdown which necessitates armed protection. Online and all around social media there is evidence of a growing interest in owning and learning to use firearms. Many call this a necessary evil, and proclaim we should get armed, be realistic – and quit living in La La Land. We believe the term ‘necessary evil’ is a pervasive oxymoron that in due time will no longer be an acceptable excuse for perpetuating violence. In the spirit of sustainability we choose peace as our protection rather than arms. Here is why.
Everyone remembers learning of the forming of the Union from the original 13 colonies. We memorized the names of generals and dates of the bloody clashes with the natives. Most believe that there was no way to live in peace on the same land. We rarely hear about the peace in Pennsylvania where the non violent Quakers had no incidents of murder or rape living amongst the natives. It was not until the Union formed and the military established itself in Pennsylvania that killings began. Some Quakers then died – but only three that had joined the newly established army.
Similar to the Middle East story… the “powers that be” made sure their financial interests were protected through puppet politicians and armed proxy governments and guerrillas in the last half of the twentieth century. Thus Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras all had civil wars followed by decades of violence and social unrest. This subsequently led to generations of lost boys who now form the deadliest gangs in these countries where more than a dozen murders occur daily in the cities. On August 16-18, 2015 there were 125 murders in just 3 days in El Salvador. This has led to an estimated 66,000 kids fleeing for their life in the last 2 years.
Neighboring Costa Rica also had a civil war, but then officially abolished its military in 1948. What followed was peace ever since and the emergence of a safe haven in Central America. This goodwill seems to have grown as Costa Rica recently decided to close public zoos in the spirit of honoring an animal’s right to freedom. They have adopted a no cage policy for animals in a time where humans are being caged at unprecedented rates around the world – ironically mostly in America – the land of the free.
On the road to Indian independence many of Gandhi’s followers were met with armed forces bent on stopping their quest. When peace was persistent the armed forces were stopped in shame – some even fled scared. Martin Luther King and many others showed similar success. For a time John Lennon was considered an enemy of the United States. Peace proclaimers are considered dangerous and are commonly killed by bullets – but they are hardly silenced. This is why our project has nothing to do with acting from fear. Rather, we are preparing for a future that is sustainable. Building and living in humane communities in peace is the only sustainable path. We choose to live in La La land. Light easily illuminates and cuts through darkness, yet no amount of darkness can ever dim the light.
by Aaron Rene Carvajal | Jul 23, 2015 | Design & Innovation, Dome Homes, Education, Freedom, Geodesic Domes, The Future
With the rapid changes in technological advancements, we are seeing disruptive changes in many industries. The new way of providing solutions and services is in flux for nearly every area of production and social interaction. With the driverless car, graphene, and nano technology on the horizon – it seems many more areas of life are about to change. We are paddling to the waves with the innovation of the portable self sustainable dome home – which is now forming it’s final features. We are taking full advantage of the advancements in computing, cameras, solar, sensors, and widespread internet connections to create a smart dome home.
Our plan is to disrupt the current notion of housing and communities by abandoning perspectives that make our current system seem reasonable. We see it as being a similar situation as the introduction of the telegraph, airplane, automobile or the birth of the internet. At a social level it could be seen as the advent of the idea of equal rights for all people. There was a time when this seemed absurd, but now commonly accepted as a moral standard. We hope to witness an expansion of this standard by showing the changes in lifestyle and relationships as people are no longer forced to give their life energy and focus to the basic needs of life. Energy will shift to true engagement with ones family and community instead of being used to further entrench a system that is destroying earth’s natural systems and robbing our children’s future.
Before many innovations became widespread, they were viewed as novelties that could never take hold and really change the world. We feel the same is about to happen today in the very near future. It will not just be housing that gets new discernment, but perhaps all features of life that surround home and family. Emerging ideas spread instantly now, which brings the real possibility of quick and meaningful change. Education is forming many new branches that are very different than past methods of memorizing and regurgitating information. Great possibilities abound when design thinking is coupled with the new tools and technologies of our time. The technology and environment are fertile for a new breed of humans who truly realize their freedom and abilities to control the future.
Our dome design is being developed at the Fremont MakerSpace in Northern California. Here we are refining the magnetic triangle dome panels to incorporate functionality that will allow for real time monitoring and control of light, sound, water, moisture, ventilation, camera views, and automated aquaponic gardens. We are preparing beta projects that will launch this year. We believe that as folks witness the possibilities, many more will join in this real life manifestation of change.
We no longer use bloodletting as a medical procedure or carriages for transportation. In words we no longer accept slavery and usury. We believe our actions will soon coincide with our intuition and instinct. The grid system that pits humans in competition with each other will eventually be discredited. Truth always wins. We are preparing for that day with a smart dome home and community solution that will fit nicely into the future we foresee.
by Aaron Rene Carvajal | Jun 24, 2015 | Design & Innovation, Dome Homes, Freedom, Geodesic Domes, The Future
What is the real world? Those that don’t understand how to navigate through it are very vulnerable, which is why most people ultimately conform to fit into the framework of society. It was recently discovered that humans have been making fire for about 400,000 years. So civilization is really quite new and hardly the whole of human history. We are in a state of metamorphosis with the rapid rise and unprecedented power to communicate and share ideas. We believe that an incredible opportunity has arisen that will allow us to rewrite our own definition of what constitutes civilization. Food, water, shelter, security, and the innate need to be together are at the root of what creates community. When we handle these needs in a more reasonable and responsible way, the form and function of civilization will start to transform as well. How can this happen if those with dissenting ideas are the yet un-molded young and those considered too stubborn or stupid to be of any real use in today’s economic end all, number-centric paradigm?
We have always and will always be at war. History repeats itself right? It’s a dog eat dog world, survival of the fittest, individual empowerment, you deserve it all and will get it if you work hard and don’t give up. Those that don’t understand or accept this reality are children, radical, crazy, or lazy. They have no worth to civilization and fall into the category of idiots. Indeed this word comes from the Greek word diōtēs – meaning one who did not understand their role as part of community, “a person lacking professional skill”, “a private citizen”… self-centeredness and concerned almost exclusively with private—as opposed to public—affairs. Wikipedia
The United Nations just announced that the number of refugees worldwide indicates a world in an unprecedented state of chaos. This seems to point to a world unaware or not concerned with the global community. This seems to be the height of idiotic. Borders and budgets mean much more than health and happiness. Private property rights stump everything else – even human life and liberty. With proposed laws to ban protests popping up across the U.S.A, now even constitutional rights are outlawed to protect private property. Instead of addressing the obvious unrest, pass a law to sweep it under the rug. This affront to freedom is easily imposed with citizens “educated” from birth to count, categorize, define, and assign a number and value to everything except one’s own sacred birth rights.
Most respectable folk believe they are part of world progress and are contributing to their community with their daily work. At a close glance this seems so. But If one stands back and observes the whole world situation it becomes apparent that the result of private concerns has raped the earth, clouded the concerns of community, and openly detests humane perspectives emerging from a discerning and maturing civilization. If you are either unable or unwilling to live within the currently prescribed path, then you are a child, crazy, a hippie, or a hobo. Our mission is to blaze a new trail and reconcile reality for those willing to travel a new direction. If you fall into this category, then our developments in disrupting housing with an affordable, portable, solar, self sustainable geo dome home may interest you.
We just partnered up with the Fremont MakerSpace in Fremont, CA as a home base for the final development of our project. Check it out at fremontmakerspace.com
by Aaron Rene Carvajal | May 27, 2015 | Freedom, Geodesic Domes, Sustainability, The Future
A few days ago at lunch my friend asked me what science experiment I would perform if I could choose anything at all. My response was this: What would happen if everyone on Earth was focused on the exact same thought and feeling – at the same exact time. Would the physical world change – even if for a moment? We laughed, but realized this may very well be possible really soon. Everyone on Earth will have a smartphone in the coming years, so a simultaneously experienced video broadcast could really happen – and achieve this experiment. The next day we happened to watch Disney’s newest movie Tomorrowland. This scenario doesn’t happen in the movie, but the premise of a reality created by our imagination is certainly nothing new to Disney. No spoilers ahead.
Tomorrowland, like many other science fiction futuristic films, shows our current day as the end of times. It was good to see the topic of the future approached in such an entertaining way, while still broaching the big issues of our time. The emphasis on a future filled with incredible technology is not so far fetched considering the incredible changes upon us. The latest special effects are spectacular and fresh, but the storyline of “believing” is in the bones of Disney. Most of their movies seem to have very similar premises: the archetypical bad guys or world threatening crisis beat by the underdog powered by truth, heart, and courage.
The big take away from Tomorrowland is that the future is in our hands. This may seem like hot air, and not seem like anything profound or special at all. We all know this. We are independent, self willed and in control of our destiny. We are free and at the pinnacle of progress. Our technology will come to the rescue and science will be our savior. But if this is the case, then why are conditions getting increasingly worse for earth’s health, and seriously threatening life for future generations. All the while there appears to be many well funded organizations and powerful governments tackling the problems. yet the headlines keep getting more disturbing with each passing day.
What will the land of tomorrow really be like? Will some fantastical story unfold like we see in Disney’s latest sci-fi adventure. Is the world of a better tomorrow just a fantasy – or to be molded by our own hands? This is the important question this latest movie poses. It is nothing new to ponder these macro matters, but perhaps the time has come to dream up solutions. Walt Disney famously said, “If you can dream it you can do it.” He also said, “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” Disney has done what it does best, and has framed the solution in fantasy. It is up to us to remove it from the realm of fantasy and truly “believe”.
by Aaron Rene Carvajal | Mar 26, 2015 | Design & Innovation, Education, Freedom, Sustainability, The Future
I can still remember my first day of philosophy class. It was a lecture about how logic had been stripped from the educational curriculum, and the reason why the world had run amuck. The points of the lecture were valid, yet there were no resolutions in reality. So I concluded the teacher was jaded and over thinking things. Lately it’s been getting more clear that there is certainly a void of rationale and reason that is drifting the world into dangerous waters. Using logic may be a real solution now. It is possible that the underlying premises that spew our daily headlines, can be rewritten with the emergence of real time data, the internet of things, and everyone on Earth watching and interacting online.
If technology does what it could, then we we will enter an era where logic and reason reign. Much of computing power comes from the boolean – where everything ultimately ends up as a 0 or 1 representing variations of True and False. “Boolean algebra has been fundamental in the development of digital electronics, and is provided for in all modern programming languages. It is also used in set theory and statistics.” – Wikipedia. This most basic of mathematical methods to determine truth could readily be applied towards constructing a better structure for our future.
There are many ways booleans are used, most simply it’s defined: AND: True & True; OR: True & False; and NOT: False & False. Many mathematical compositions can be built from here, but at it’s core it boils down to Conjunction (and), Disjunction (or), and Negation (not). Using web applications to assess what is best for earth has never been available like it is now, with the rapidly evolving technology and ever growing human data. The processing power and information are now here. We are not talking about a computer taking over our lives, but rather using the information and insight from real time connections and assessments, to make decisions with logical discernment. The era of politics and power have left much to be desired, and hopefully will soon be relics of the past.
The world situation gets more clear now that we are increasingly connected with constant communication and online sharing. About 2 billion people are online now. What happens when the other 5 billion come online and voice their vote. It is planned for everyone on earth to be online by 2020 or so. Online access now is only about 28% in Asia, 15% in Africa, 43% in Latin America, and 40% in the Middle East. Things could get interesting as real time interactions become ubiquitous. How will this technology be used? There has never been a time in history like now. We can correct our past errors or further entrench them. A digital renaissance is upon us. Will logic and reason prevail?
In memory of Leonard Nimoy. Rest in Peace.
by Aaron Rene Carvajal | Mar 8, 2015 | Design & Innovation, Dome Homes, Education, Freedom, Geodesic Domes, The Future
Why go round instead of square? For starters take a look at how nature designs everything. The movement and momentum of life happens on a platform based on the circle. There aren’t really any straight lines or squares in the growth of life and movement of the heavens. So why do we build most everything using squares or straight lines? We don’t live in MineCraft, so we may want to explore the world of circles and natural ratios to build our future homes and products. Here are just a few very good reasons why this makes sense.
The geo dome structures weigh less when completed because of the air-mass inside the dome. When it’s heated warmer than the outside air, it has a net lifting effect -like a hot-air balloon. This is almost unnoticeable in smaller structures, like houses, but as geodesics are based upon spheres, the effect increases geometrically with size. So you’d be able to notice it in a sports stadium, and a sphere more than a half mile in diameter would be able to float in the air with only a 1 degree Fahrenheit difference in temperature.
“The Geodesic Dome is, simply stated, the strongest, lightest and most efficient means of enclosing space yet devised.” American Institute of Architects. This says it all, but here are some more reasons. Geodesic domes use about a third less building materials for some substantial savings. The primary factor affecting efficient use of materials and energy in a structure is its shape. Think of a soap bubble. A sphere represents the smallest amount of material surface area needed to enclose a given volume of space. A divided sphere becomes one of the most efficient shapes known to enclose a given floor area.
The lower the total outside surface area (walls and ceilings) the greater the efficiency in energy use for heating and cooling. A dome has approximately one-third less surface area to the outside than a box-style structure. The amount of surface area exposed to the elements has a much greater impact on energy efficiency than insulation values. Efficient airflow inside a dome adds to the energy savings further; the curved surface of a dome provides a natural circulation of internal air. Outside the dome, the round shape provides an aerodynamic effect; so wind passes over the dome with less resistance. In comparison, a box-style structure provides a flat barrier to wind, creating positive wind pressure and suction. Ever notice how a door will slam shut when a door to the outside is left open, or air blows in from under a closed door?
The nature of the spherical design provides strength because the stress is shared evenly by all the points of the structure. The dome shape allows resistance to movement from earthquakes, high winds, and spreads stress from snow load evenly throughout the structure. The geometry of the triangle offers additional strength to the dome shape. Interior advantages of the dome include greater freedom of floor plan design, high ceilings, and even light, heat, and sound distribution. Domes display superior light characteristics as spherical shapes tend to amplify light while rectangular shapes tend to trap light. Acoustical advantages include more even sound distribution and less outside noise infiltration.
Most interesting and important are recent studies that show that the full spectrum of energy waves are available in the center of a dome. In a box, the energy waves are blocked. Thus the saying, “I feel like I am boxed in…” We seem to know instinctually and feel physically the comfort of being inside a dome. The importance of the natural energy waves all around us is just beginning to be understood. Lastly, let’s not forget they are simply good looking and cool.
